Impact of New Standardized Population for Estimating Cancer Incidence in Indian Context- an Analysis from National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP)

OBJECTIVE: Standardization adjusts for variations in population age-distribution and provides a summary measure for the comparison of populations and comparisons of time-trends in population. Globally, several standard population were used by many countries for comparison of rates. Segi World Standard Population (WSP) is suitable for international comparison. However, national standard population would be more appropriate for Intra-national comparison as the standard should be similar to the population of interest. This study aimed to develop Indian Standard Population (ISP) for estimating Age Adjusted Rate (AAR) and, to understand the outcome on the cancer incidence rate using ISP in Population Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs). METHODS: The Indian Standard Population was estimated based on the average age structure of three Censuses (1991,2001 and 2011). Age Adjusted Rate has been estimated using two standard populations of WSP and ISP for magnitude of change and comparison between 15 PBCRs in India. RESULTS: The implementation of ISP led to overall 20% reduction in AAR for all sites of cancers in both sexes and minor relative changes in the ranking among PBCRs. Time trends in cancer incidence rate showed same temporal pattern curve using both ISP and WSP, AARs. CONCLUSION: The ISP would be more representative of the age-structure of Indian registries population and this would give more realistic comparison across the different PBCRs in India.